Benjamin Bankes, a pig in a pink suit, is the official icon of Feed the Pig™ (www.feedthepig.org), a national public service campaign of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Ad Council. The campaign delivers a strong message to career builders – those 25 to 34 years of age – about the importance and benefits of saving to build a solid financial future. A study commissioned by the AICPA shows that the median net worth of Americans in this age group is more than 40 percent lower than it was 20 years ago, despite increases in income.

“2007 ushers in the year of the pig, which represents prosperity and good fortune,” said Carl George, Chair of the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission. “Those, of course, are the underlying themes of Feed the Pig. Our goal is to help these young Americans understand that by taking small steps today, they can begin working toward a comfortable retirement.”

Here are 10 basic Feed the Pig tips to help consumers get on the road to prosperity in the Year of the Pig:

Open up a 401(k). Check to see if your employer matches a percentage of your contribution. A matching contribution is essentially free money.

Bank your raise or at least a portion of it. If you don’t get used to having the extra money, you won’t miss it.

Kick the habit once and for all. Smoking is hard on the wallet and your health.

A dedicated website, www.FeedthePig.org, provides free financial information and tools to help career builders take control of their finances and build long-term financial security.

The campaign extends the reach of the award-winning 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy (www.360financialliteracy.org), the CPA profession’s national campaign that helps educate Americans on how financial issues affect them at the different stages of their lives, from childhood to retirement.